Shopify Guides and UpdatesShopify Store Creation Checklist (2026)
Quick AnswerTo launch a Shopify store in Singapore in 2026, you need a Shopify plan, domain name, product photography, local payment gateways (PayNow, Stripe, GrabPay), a shipping solution, and PDPA compliance. A basic store can be live in 1–2 weeks.

Shopify Store Creation Checklist (2026)

This Shopify Store Creation Checklist walks you through every step needed to set up a Shopify store properly — from backend basics to products, theme customisation, payments, shipping, apps, and going live.

Developed by Jessica Bong, founder of Shopify development studio Soodo & brand owner of Patch&Bagel based in Singapore. Used in real client builds and professional Shopify training workshops.

A. Shopify Backend Basics

Logging in

  1. Go to shopify.com/login
  2. Or admin.shopify.com if using a development store

Dashboard overview

  • Home
  • Orders
  • Products
  • Content
  • Customers
  • Analytics
  • Marketing
  • Discounts
  • Sales Channels (Online Store)

B. Adding Products & Collections

Add a product

  1. Products → Add product
  2. Fill in:
    • Title
    • Description
    • Media
    • Pricing
    • Inventory (SKU, stock)
    • Shipping
    • Options (variants)
  3. Set Product Status to Active
  4. Save

Create a manual collection

  1. Products → Collections → Create collection
  2. Collection type: Manual
  3. Add products
  4. Add collection image
  5. Save

Create an automated collection

  1. Products → Collections → Create collection
  2. Collection type: Automated
  3. Set conditions (tag, title, vendor, type, price)
  4. Save

Tags & product organisation

  1. Products → All products
  2. Select a product
  3. Scroll to Organisation
  4. Set Product Type, Vendor, Tags

Bulk tagging: Products → Select multiple → More actions → Add tags

C. Pages, Menus & Policies

Create pages

  1. Online Store → Pages
  2. Add page
  3. Add title & content
  4. Set visibility to Visible
  5. Save

Set up menus

  1. Content → Menus
  2. Edit Main Menu
  3. Add menu items (Page, Collection, Product, URL)
  4. Drag to reorder
  5. Save

Store policies

  1. Settings → Policies
  2. Add or generate:
    • Refund
    • Privacy
    • Shipping
    • Terms of Service
  3. Save

Add policies to Footer Menu under Content → Menus.

D. Theme & Design Customisation

Theme editor

  1. Online Store → Themes → Customize
  2. Edit header, homepage, product pages, collections, footer

Homepage setup

  • Add / remove sections
  • Rearrange sections
  • Save changes

Edit product page

  1. Customize → Products → Default product
  2. Edit media, buy button, description, reviews
  3. Save

Edit collection page

  1. Customize → Collections → Default collection
  2. Edit banner, filters, layout
  3. Save

Update branding & SEO

  1. Theme settings → Colors, Typography, Buttons
  2. Online Store → Preferences
  3. Set Store Title
  4. Write Meta Description (150–160 characters)

E. Discounts, Shipping & International

Discount codes

  1. Discounts → Create discount
  2. Select type (percentage, fixed, free shipping)
  3. Set usage limits
  4. Save

Shipping

  1. Settings → Shipping and delivery
  2. Edit General Shipping Rates
  3. Configure flat or price-based rates
  4. Save

International markets

  1. Markets → Create market
  2. Add regions (MY, US, AU, EU)
  3. Configure currency & shipping
  4. Save

F. Settings & Analytics

Key settings

  • Payments
  • Checkout
  • Taxes
  • Users & permissions
  • Apps
  • Files

Analytics

  1. Analytics → Dashboard
  2. Monitor:
    • Total sales
    • Sessions
    • Conversion rate
    • Returning customers

G. Domain & Apps

Custom domain

  1. Settings → Domains
  2. Buy or connect domain
  3. Verify
  4. Set as primary

Installing apps

  1. Apps → Shopify App Store
  2. Install app
  3. Approve permissions
  4. Enable via Theme → App embeds

H. Orders, Fulfilment & Security

Fulfil orders

  1. Orders → Open order
  2. Add tracking
  3. Mark fulfilled
  4. Send notification

Test order

  1. Settings → Payments → Activate Bogus Gateway
  2. Place test order
  3. Fulfil & archive

Maintenance

  • Remove unused apps
  • Clean up files
  • Export backups (products, customers, orders)

I. Pre-Launch Checklist

  • Domain connected
  • Payment gateway tested
  • Shipping rates working
  • Taxes set
  • Policies added
  • Test order completed
  • Menus working
  • Product images optimised
  • Homepage complete
  • Footer complete
  • Email notifications working

Go live

  1. Online Store → Preferences
  2. Remove password
  3. Save — your store is live

This is the same checklist followed by a professional Shopify developer in Singapore when setting up stores properly.

Shopify Developer: When to DIY vs Hire Help

If you’re learning Shopify, DIY is a great start. But if you’re building a store that needs to look premium, load fast, and convert well, working with a Shopify developer in Singapore can save you weeks (and prevent expensive rework).

DIY is usually fine if you:

  • Have 1–10 products and a simple catalog
  • Are using a standard theme with minimal custom changes
  • Don’t need complex shipping, markets, or custom integrations yet

Consider hiring a Shopify developer if you:

  • Need a conversion-focused homepage/product page layout (not just “pretty”)
  • Want custom sections, advanced theme edits, or speed improvements
  • Are migrating from another platform (Wix/WooCommerce) and need SEO preserved
  • Need clean setup for payments, shipping rules, markets, and app integrations
Want help from a Shopify developer?
If you’d like me to review your store setup and point out the highest-impact fixes, contact me directly to schedule a call.
What does a Shopify developer in Singapore help with?

A Shopify developer can help with theme customization, custom sections, speed optimization, SEO-friendly migrations, app integrations, and building pages that convert better.

How do I choose a Shopify developer in Singapore?

Look for real Shopify builds, clear scope and timelines, strong UX/CRO thinking (not just design), and a setup process that includes testing (payments, shipping, emails, and a full test order).

Shopify Checklist

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Made for new & experienced store owners who want more sales.

Includes 100+ website references updated monthly.

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What our clients say

Real reviews from the Shopify brand owners we have worked with.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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 Marie Monmont 
 
 
 
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Jessica's work is truly genuine and working with her is a pure pleasure. No hassle, good understanding on what our brand Wildness really needed out of Shopify. Nailed it , highly recommend to work with her! Thanks from Wildness Asia!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Ruth Ng 
 
 
 
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Jessica was an absolute delight to work with! She’s meticulous and super knowledgeable about all the technical things which I am totally clueless about. Best thing about Jessica is that she’s always very responsive and willing to help. You know she’s genuinely invested in your work and wants the best for your business. It’s my blessing to have found her, she’s definitely a trusted professional service. As a small business owner, we really need someone we can trust to make things work and Jessica is the person!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Jonathon Lau 
 
 
 
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The cooperation with Soodo was a blessing, Jessica's professionalism and efficiency makes it such a breeze to get the best possible results. I am more than willing to share my experience with anyone who are thinkning of doing their online presences in shopify and looking for a realiable, qualitative agency to do the job. Soodo - a choice you would love after making it.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Mike Chu 
 
 
 
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Working with Jess is a real pleasure. Responsive, independent and punctual, she's one that aims to pull a project towards completion by all means. Highly recommended for those who are looking to improve their page!
Got Questions?

Working With Soodo, Shopify Agency

What types of businesses does Soodo work with?

Soodo works with Singapore SMEs, bootstrapped eCommerce founders, and growing online brands who want a Shopify store that actually sells. Our clients include first-time store owners, businesses migrating from Shopee or WooCommerce, and established brands needing CRO to scale without increasing ad spend.

Do I need a big budget to work with Soodo?

No. New Shopify builds start from SGD $6,000, store optimisation from SGD $1,000, and migrations from SGD $4,000. Book a free audit call to get an exact quote.

Can Soodo help me if I am new to Shopify?

Absolutely. We handle everything from scratch — store setup, product uploads, payment gateway configuration, shipping rules, and brand design. Every project includes hands-on training, recorded video walkthroughs, and 6 months of WhatsApp support so you can run your store confidently after launch.

How is Soodo different from a freelancer or large agency?

Soodo is founder-led: Jessica Bong built and runs her own six-figure Shopify brand, so she builds your store the way an experienced operator would. Unlike large agencies, you get direct access to the person doing the work. Unlike most freelancers, you get a structured process, unlimited revisions, and real post-launch support.

How long does a typical Shopify project take from start to launch?

New builds typically take 2 to 6 weeks. Migrations take 2 to 4 weeks. CRO optimisation projects take 2 to 4 weeks for scoped improvements. Every project starts with a clear milestone plan so you always know what is happening next and when to expect your launch date.

Does Soodo work with businesses outside Singapore?

Our primary focus is Singapore SMEs, but we work with brands across Southeast Asia including Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Australia. We also work with international clients from US and Europe that do not mind the timezone differences. Soodo is experienced with Shopify Markets for multi-currency and multi-region selling.

What does a Shopify build cost in Singapore?

Budgets range from $5K SGD for a customised theme to $30K+ SGD for a fully custom build. We provide fixed-scope pricing with no surprises.

Do you offer post-launch support?

Yes. We offer 6-months of post-launch support. Most clients are able to self-manage the store with our comprehensive handover training and do not require a monthly retainer fees. Most of our larger clients continue to engage us for upgrades to their store such as performance monitoring, CRO improvements, and technical support.

Shopify vs Shopify Plus — which is right for us?

Shopify ($39–$399/month) suits most growing SMEs. Shopify Plus ($2,300+/month) adds enterprise B2B tools, checkout scripting, and unlimited staff accounts. We'll advise which fits your stage.

Can you improve my existing store's conversion rate?

Absolutely. Our CRO service starts with a full store audit identifying friction in product pages, cart, and checkout. Data-driven fixes follow. Most clients see measurable uplift within 60 days.

How long does a Shopify migration take?

Most migrations from WooCommerce, Magento, or Wix take 4–8 weeks depending on catalogue size and custom features. We provide a detailed project plan before we start.

Do you build custom themes or use templates?

Both. We build fully custom themes from scratch and customise premium Shopify themes for faster launches. Every project is tailored to your brand — no cookie-cutter output.

Can you help with Shopify SEO?

Yes. Every Soodo build is on-page SEO-ready from day one — structured data, optimised meta tags, fast load times, and content mapped to search intent. We also offer ongoing SEO retainers through our agency partners.

Do you handle app integrations?

Yes — Smile.io, Klaviyo, HitPay, EPOS, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, and EasyParcel are some of the top CRM and logistics integrations. Brands that already use these platforms can easily manage them within Shopify as an app integration. For brands that need suggestions on applications, we will evaluate each app for performance impact and build custom solutions where needed.

What do I need to get started?

Just a brief on your business, customers, products, timeline, and budget. Book a free Meet and Greet call — we'll send a tailored proposal within 48 hours.

Book a Free Shopify Audit →
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